By Stan Welch
West Pelzer Town Council honored one of its own Monday night. Councilman Jimmy Jeanes, a veteran of almost nine years on the Council, received a plaque in recognition of his service to the town. Jeanes was defeated in his re-election bid in November, but he served between 2007 and 2011, and again between 2014 and 2017.
Jeanes, whose reputation for penury and keeping a sharp pencil handy during budget discussions, acknowledged that his personal history influenced his approach to government. “I came up during hard times and I learned early to make every penny go as far as it can go. Me and that other mayor never saw eye to eye on things, but this town has come a long way in the last few years.”
Jeanes also made a rather cryptic remark about having accepted an offer from Pelzer to “help them out”. The remark seemed to point to some sort of informal consulting role, but Jeanes did not elaborate.
West Pelzer Mayor Blake Sanders, whose courteous and respectful handling of Jeanes since his election as Mayor, said that he loved Jeanes like a brother and truly appreciated his service to the town. During his last term, Jeanes also served as Mayor pro tem, and, in that role, represented the town on the joint sewer committee formed with Pelzer.
Despite his frequent questioning of the financing of the town’s recent water and sewer projects, Jeanes said Monday night that the importance of adequate water and sewer systems to the town cannot be overstated.
“A town without good water and sewer systems isn’t a town where people want to live. West Pelzer has come a long way in the last few years. I just want to see it become as nice a small town as you can find, and there’s still time for that to happen.”
Jeanes’ fellow councilmen all had kind words and the audience applauded his acceptance of the plaque. “Don’t worry. I’ll still be coming to the meetings,” Jeanes said to laughter from the council and the crowd.
